A year ago, my beloved dog Boone passed away. Losing a pet after 12 years together was heartbreaking — but what surprised me most wasn’t just the sadness. It was how differently my husband and I experienced that loss, and how much our thoughts shaped our emotions.
When Boone died, my mind fixated on painful thoughts:
We couldn’t get to the emergency vet in the snowstorm.
What did I miss leading up to this?
If only I had done more…
Those thoughts spiraled into guilt, shame, and deep misery.
My husband, just as heartbroken, had very different thoughts:
His passing was so peaceful.
He laid in the snow, looking up at the flakes falling, with our other dog by his side.
He spent his last moments doing the things he loved most.
Same loss. Same love. Different stories. Different emotions.
What Does This Have to Do With Your Home?
Everything.
Your home is full of stories you tell yourself every day.
The messy counter might whisper, “You’re behind again.”
The overstuffed closet might say, “You’ll never get organized.”
The garage full of boxes might quietly murmur, “Someday you’ll deal with this.”
These quiet, constant thoughts create stress, guilt, and overwhelm.
But when you change the story, you change how you feel. When you change how you feel you can take action from a different place.
Imagine instead:
The counter says, “I have a system now that works for me.”
The closet says, “Everything here fits and makes me feel great.”
The garage whispers, “This space is ready for new possibilities.”
How I Help Clients Shift Both
This is why my work combines decluttering and coaching.
I don’t just help people “get rid of stuff.” I help them uncover the thoughts behind the clutter — the guilt, the “what ifs,” the “someday…” — and shift those stories.
Because here’s the truth:
~ Clear your clutter, clear your mind. ~ Shift your thoughts, shift how you feel about your space — and your life.
A Thought Shift You Can Try Today
Here’s one simple reframe:
Instead of thinking: “I’ll never get this space under control.”
Try: “I’m learning to create calm, one step at a time.”
One small thought shift can change your feelings — and help you take action.
Final Thoughts
Losing Boone taught me something I now bring to every client I work with: our thoughts can weigh us down or help us heal.
Your home is no different. You can hold on to thoughts (and items) that keep you stuck in guilt and overwhelm — or you can create new ones that allow you to breathe easier.
If you’re ready to shift both your space and your mindset, my CLARITY Framework can help.
